I loved Kristen Loesch's first novel, The Last Russian Doll, so I was excited to read her newest book. The Hong Kong Widow is out today, and it is a stunning work of horror. Set between three timelines, it follows Mei from her difficult childhood, to series of séances gone wrong in her 20s, to... Continue Reading →
This week, Lorena Hughes released her fourth novel, The Night We Became Strangers. Taking inspiration from a disastrous 1949 radio broadcasting in Quito, Ecuador, this novel dives into what caused such a risky broadcast in the first place and looks at the aftermath. Two families torn apart, two kids—now young adults—left with more questions than... Continue Reading →
Today Silvia Moreno-Garcia releases her eleventh novel, The Bewitching. By now I've read nearly everything she's released, and I know that, no matter the genre or setting, I'll be in for a mesmerizing tale. Here readers get three timelines: On a rural farm in Mexico in 1908, Alba faces a series of losses and increasing... Continue Reading →
The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years is Shubnum Khan's first novel available in the United States. This is one of those cases where the cover completely captured my attention; it is gorgeous and evocative. I also have a growing interest in djinn, so I was excited to read a new book in which they feature.... Continue Reading →
Every month I check the Amazon First Reads selections on offer, happy to get a free book a month before its wider publication. For September, my pick was A Night at the Tropicana, a short story by Chanel Cleeton. I'd read one novel of hers before, Next Year in Havana, and was curious to read... Continue Reading →
One year ago, I enjoyed reading Miss Aldridge Regrets, the first in Louise Hare’s Canary Club Mystery series. Now the series continues with Harlem After Midnight, set immediately after the previous book’s events. Told in three timelines, it combines two different mysteries, both set in New York City in the first half of the 20th... Continue Reading →
In the past few months, I kept hearing about a new book called Orchid Child by Victoria Costello. The setting in Ireland caught my interest, but so did its unique premise of intergenerational trauma, epigenetics, and schizophrenia. I was intrigued to see where these interconnecting themes would go! Special thanks to NetGalley and Between the... Continue Reading →
Last year, I greatly enjoyed Brendan Slocumb's debut novel, The Violin Conspiracy. As soon as I heard about his second book, I could hardly wait. I was overjoyed to get an ARC of his new novel, Symphony of Secrets, which comes out tomorrow, April 18th. His sophomore release is even more impressive and impactful than his... Continue Reading →
Yesterday, the English translation of The Woman Beyond the Sea by Sarit Yishai-Levi hit shelves. The book was first published in Hebrew in 2019, and the new translation was done by Gilah Kahn-Hoffmann. This historical fiction novel, set primarily in Israel, follows a mother and daughter and their difficult relationship, their tumultuous lives, and the... Continue Reading →
Sometimes, a beautiful cover and an intriguing title are all it takes to pique my interest in a book. Such was the case with The Last Russian Doll, the debut novel by Kristen Loesch. My knowledge of Russia, its history, and its culture are fairly limited. Of course, I know the major musical and literary... Continue Reading →
One of my most anticipated novels of 2023 has been The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone by Audrey Burges. This debut novel is so imaginative and magical, and it defies easy categorization. I didn't know what to expect going into it, but it absolutely captivated me. Special thanks to the publicists at Penguin Random House... Continue Reading →
Last summer, I was excited to learn that Armando Lucas Correa had a new novel on the horizon, The Night Travelers. A few years ago I had picked up his debut novel, The German Girl, and his latest release returns to the same themes of escaping 1930s Germany on the St. Louis, a ship bound... Continue Reading →
Ever since I first saw the cover for Veronica G. Henry's debut novel, Bacchanal, I've been eager to read it. With Spooky Season well underway, I thought now was the perfect time to dive into this magical story of evil and mystery set the American South in the 1930s. Summary Eliza Meeks was abandoned by... Continue Reading →
Three years ago, I read and absolutely loved The Binding by Bridget Collins. It is one of my all-time favorite books. So I was excited when the author's second adult novel, The Betrayals, was announced. Though I've had it for the past year, I'm only now finally getting to it as part of my Dark... Continue Reading →
Only a couple of weeks ago I was perusing NetGalley when I saw a new book that wasn't yet available: Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine. It immediately captured my interest, so I indicated my hope that it would be made available soon. Shortly after, I was surprised and elated when NetGalley had not only... Continue Reading →
It's been more than five years since I read my first Hazel Gaynor book. In summer 2016, I loved The Girl From the Savoy, and I've collected a few of her books since then and added the rest to my "to buy" list. One of her publications since then was The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter. I... Continue Reading →
One of my most anticipated books of last year was The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai. I was happy to get it as a gift last Christmas (special thanks to my mom!), and since May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, now felt like the perfect time to read it. This... Continue Reading →
Let me preface this review with a confession: I was really excited when A Witch in Time, the debut novel by Constance Sayers, was about to be published in February 2020. Then I was ecstatic when I won it in a Goodreads giveaway! But the version I won was an ebook, and I've never been... Continue Reading →
Amanda's Book Corner 